Pros and Cons of Website Builders According to SHEKSEO

BySHEKSEO

Website builders are a popular choice for creating websites, especially for those who do not have coding or web design experience. They offer a variety of features and templates that make it easy to create a professional-looking website with minimal effort.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using website builders. It is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before choosing a website builder that is right for you.

Pros of website builders:

  • Ease of use: Website builders are typically very easy to use, even for beginners. They often have drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-made templates that make it easy to create a website without having to write any code.
  • Affordability: Website builders are generally very affordable, especially when compared to hiring a web designer or developer. Many website builders offer free plans or plans that start at just a few dollars per month.
  • Features and functionality: Website builders offer a variety of features and functionality, such as e-commerce support, blogging tools, and social media integration. This makes it possible to create a fully functional website without having to use any third-party tools or services.
  • Scalability: Most website builders are scalable, meaning that they can grow with your business. As your website needs change, you can easily upgrade your plan or add new features.

Cons of website builders:

  • Design flexibility: Some website builders may limit your design flexibility. This is because they often use templates and pre-made elements. If you have a very specific vision for your website, you may want to consider using a different platform.
  • SEO: Some website builders may not be as good for SEO as others. This means that your website may not rank as well in search engine results pages (SERPs). If SEO is important to you, you should choose a website builder that is known for being SEO-friendly.
  • Ownership: When you use a website builder, you may not own your website outright. This is because the website builder may host your website on its own servers. If you decide to switch to a different website builder, you may not be able to easily transfer your website.

Popular website builders:

  • WordPress
  • Squarespace
  • ShowIt
  • Shopify
  • Wix

Choosing a website builder:

When choosing a website builder, there are a few key factors to consider:

  • Ease of use: How easy is the website builder to use? Do you have any coding or web design experience?
  • Features and functionality: What features and functionality are important to you? Do you need e-commerce support, blogging tools, or social media integration?
  • Design flexibility: How much design flexibility do you need? If you have a very specific vision for your website, you may want to choose a website builder that offers more flexibility.
  • SEO: How important is SEO to you? If SEO is important, you should choose a website builder that is known for being SEO-friendly.
  • Ownership: Do you want to own your website outright? If so, you should choose a website builder that allows you to export your website files.

Overall, website builders can be a great way to create a professional-looking website without having any coding or web design experience. However, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before choosing a website builder.

ShowIt Cons


Showit is a website builder that is known for its design flexibility and ease of use. However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using Showit.

Cons of Showit:

  • Learning curve: Showit has a bit of a learning curve, especially for beginners. The drag-and-drop interface is easy to use, but there are some more advanced features that can be difficult to learn.
  • Limited features: Showit does not have as many features as some other website builders, such as WordPress.com. For example, Showit does not have a built-in blog platform or e-commerce support.
  • Responsive design: Showit is not as responsive as some other website builders. This means that your website may not look as good on all devices, especially mobile devices.
  • Cost: Showit is more expensive than some other website builders. The pricing starts at $19 per month, but you will need to upgrade to a higher plan if you need more features or storage space.

Overall, Showit is a good website builder for creative professionals who need a lot of design flexibility. However, it is important to be aware of the drawbacks before choosing Showit.

Here are some additional cons of Showit that have been reported by users:

  • Slow loading times: Some users have reported that Showit websites can load slowly. This is because Showit uses a lot of CSS and JavaScript to create custom designs.
  • Limited customer support: Showit’s customer support has been criticized for being slow and unresponsive.
  • Lack of third-party integrations: Showit does not have as many third-party integrations as some other website builders. This means that you may not be able to use all of your favorite plugins and widgets.

If you are considering using Showit, it is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully to decide if it is the right website builder for you.

Pixieset Website Builder Cons


Here are some of the cons of using Pixieset for your website:

  • Limited design flexibility: Pixieset’s website builder is not as flexible as some other website builders, such as Wix or Squarespace. This means that you may be limited in what you can do with your website’s design.
  • Lack of features: Pixieset’s website builder does not have as many features as some other website builders. For example, Pixieset does not have a built-in blog platform or e-commerce support.
  • SEO: Pixieset is not as good for SEO as some other website builders. This means that your website may not rank as well in search engine results pages (SERPs).
  • Ownership: When you use Pixieset to create a website, you do not own the website outright. This is because Pixieset hosts your website on its own servers. If you decide to switch to a different website builder, you may not be able to easily transfer your website.

In addition to these general cons, there are also some specific cons of using Pixieset for your website as a photographer:

  • No pricing for website only: Pixieset only offers combined pricing for website and gallery plans. This means that you will have to pay for a gallery plan even if you only want to use Pixieset for your website.
  • No free plan: Pixieset does not offer a free plan for websites. This means that you will need to pay for a subscription even if you are just starting out and do not have many clients yet.

Overall, Pixieset is a good option for photographers who need a professional-looking and easy-to-use online gallery. However, it is not the best option for photographers who need a lot of design flexibility or features for their website.

If you are a photographer looking for a website builder, I recommend considering WordPress. Website builders offer more design flexibility and features than Pixieset, and they are also better for SEO.

Squarespace Cons

Squarespace is a popular website builder known for its beautiful templates and easy-to-use interface. However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using Squarespace, including:

  • Limited customization options: While Squarespace offers a wide range of templates and design options, it can be difficult to make significant changes to the layout or functionality of your website. This can be frustrating for users who want to create a truly unique and customized website or landing page.
  • Expensive pricing: Squarespace is one of the more expensive website builders on the market. Its pricing plans start at $16 per month, but you will need to upgrade to a higher plan if you need more features or storage space.
  • Lack of third-party integrations: Squarespace does not have as many third-party integrations as some other website builders, such as WordPress. This means that you may not be able to use all of your favorite plugins and widgets.
  • No free plan: Squarespace does not offer a free plan. This means that you will need to pay for a subscription even if you are just starting out and do not have many clients yet.

In addition to these general cons, there are also some specific cons of using Squarespace for certain types of websites:

  • E-commerce: Squarespace’s e-commerce features are not as robust as some other website builders, such as Shopify. This means that Squarespace may not be the best option for businesses that sell a lot of products.
  • Blogging: Squarespace’s blogging features are also not as robust as some other website builders, such as WordPress.com. This means that Squarespace may not be the best option for businesses that rely heavily on blogging for their content marketing strategy.

Overall, Squarespace is a good website builder for businesses that need a professional-looking and easy-to-use website. However, it is important to be aware of the drawbacks before choosing Squarespace, especially if you need a lot of customization options or third-party integrations.

If you are looking for a website builder with more customization options and third-party integrations, you may want to consider WordPress.com.

WordPress Cons

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that is used to create and manage websites. It is a powerful and versatile platform, but it also has some potential drawbacks.

Here are some of the cons of WordPress:

  • Security: WordPress is a popular target for hackers. This is because it is a widely used platform and there are many known vulnerabilities. It is important to keep your WordPress website up to date and to use a strong security plugin to protect it from attack.
  • Complexity: WordPress can be complex to learn and use, especially for beginners. There are many different features and options available, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
  • Maintenance: WordPress websites require regular maintenance, such as updates, backups, and security scans. This can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for small businesses.
  • Performance: WordPress websites can be slow if they are not properly configured and optimized. This is because WordPress is a dynamic CMS, which means that it generates pages on the fly.
  • Cost: WordPress is free to use, but there are many costs associated with running a WordPress website, such as hosting, domain name registration, themes, plugins, and security.

In addition to these general cons, there are also some specific cons of using WordPress for certain types of websites:

  • E-commerce: WordPress is not as well-suited for e-commerce as some other platforms, such as Shopify. This is because WordPress does not have built-in e-commerce features. You will need to use a plugin to add e-commerce functionality to your WordPress website.
  • Membership websites: WordPress is not as well-suited for membership websites as some other platforms, such as Memberful. This is because WordPress does not have built-in membership features. You will need to use a plugin to add membership functionality to your WordPress website.

Overall, WordPress is a good CMS for a wide range of websites. However, it is important to be aware of the drawbacks before choosing WordPress, especially if you are a beginner or if you need a website with complex features.

Reach out to me if you want to learn more about the different website builders so you can save time and make the right choice!